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Celebrating 40 Years of Spielbergs Close Encounters of the Third
Kind: A 70mm Reference List
We are not alone.

The
following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter
presentations of
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
in North America. The films 70mm prints consisted of full-frame imagery
blown up from anamorphic 35mm. The audio on the majority of the prints was
Six-Track Dolby Stereo
(A encoded baby boom format). Some prints lacked Dolby noise reduction
or were played back on non-Dolby brand equipment.

Close Encounters was among two confirmed first-run films released
in 1977 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Columbia/EMI
presentation was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Richard Dreyfuss,
Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon and Francois Truffaut.

The films premiere was held November 15th at the
Ziegfeld in New York.

The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) has for some entries
been included in parenthesis following the cinema name.

Note that some of the presentations included in this listing may have been
presented in 35mm during the latter weeks of engagement due to print damage
and the distributors unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print or
because the booking was moved to a smaller, 35mm-only auditorium within a
multiplex. As well, the reverse may have been true in some cases whereas a
booking began with a 35mm print because the lab was unable to complete the
70mm print order in time for an opening-day delivery or the exhibitor
negotiated a mid-run switch to 70mm. In these cases, the 35mm portion of the
engagement has been included in the duration figure.

All presentations included in this listing from 1980 were the revised
Special Edition.

The information in this article was principally referenced from film
industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to
Don Beelik, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer and Stan Malone.

Additional 70mm prints were screened internationally but have not been
accounted for in this article.

If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please
consider emailing the
author or editor.